Memory.

A programme about memory presented by the actress and comedienne Maureen Lipman. Her father was a gentleman's outfitter and she returns to the shop where he worked. For the last 15 years of his life, he had no short-term memory. Maureen looks at how she can preserve her own memories. She visits a primary school and hears children's earliest memories. Dr Catriona Morrison, Research Psychologist, has collected these memories and explains the foundation of memory scientifically. Autobiographical memory starts at about 16 months old just as language is acquired. Lipman returns to her old secondary school for a reunion with former classmates. Professor Martin Conway, Cognitive Psychologist, talks about the 'reminiscent bump'; we have lots have memories aged 15-25 years when the 'self' is becomes fully formed. Lipman goes to UCL and visits Dr Hugo Spiers, neuroscientist; having previously completed a questionnaire, she has an MRi scan and the memories are evoked by being given word prompts. The MRi readings are then viewed. When her husband died, Maureen completed his autobiography and contacted Paul McKenna, the well-known hynotist, to hypnotise her not to cry whilst she was going publicity for the book. She returns to McKenna to find out more about his technique which involves memory. Lipman talks to two survivors of the 7/7 bombings who are undergoing post-traumatic stress therapy. Steven Williams, Professor of Imaging Sciences explains how memory is malleable. Dr Michael Mosley meets with Lipman and the actor Larry Lamb and gives them tips about remembering details and sets them a challenge to remember the names and birthdays of 25 individuals. Professor Nick Fox, Consultant Neurologist, tells Lipman about how Alzheimers changes the brain. Lipman then visits the writer Terry Pratchet who has the condition. A friend, a former photographer, is aged 101 and still alert. Mosley tests Lipman and Lamb - Lipman wins.